Antonio de Melo

Antonio Soares de Melo — known affectionately within the BJJ community as "Toninho" — was born on January 13, 1961, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Raised close to the beach, water sports shaped his early athletic identity and instilled a natural comfort with physical competition. His first formal competitive experience came through volleyball, a sport that built his foundational understanding of teamwork and athletic discipline.

Even as a young child, de Melo felt a strong pull toward contact sports, persistently asking his parents to enroll him in a martial arts gym. After months of persuasion, his father relented and brought him to the GRESE (Grêmio Recreativo dos Empregados da Standard Elétrica), a recreational facility tied to his father's employer. It was there, at age 12, that Antonio first encountered Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Geraldo Gonçalves Flores — the instructor who would become his lifelong mentor and the defining influence on his martial arts journey.

Geraldo Gonçalves Flores guided Antonio de Melo through every stage of his belt progression, from his first steps on the mat through each successive rank. This sustained student-teacher relationship reflects both the depth of their bond and de Melo's unwavering dedication over many years of training.

Alongside his work under Master Flores, de Melo trained under Robson Gracie, one of the foundational figures in the Gracie BJJ lineage and a direct link to the art's origins. It was Master Robson Gracie who awarded Antonio de Melo his black belt on December 22, 1993, at the historic Tijuca Tenis Clube in Rio de Janeiro — a ceremony that formalized over a decade of devoted practice. This dual mentorship under both Flores and Gracie reflects a deep and authentic connection to the roots of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Antonio de Melo's competitive career stands as a testament to his technical excellence and his enduring commitment to testing himself on the mat across multiple decades. His elite-level ability was already evident before reaching black belt — in 1992, he claimed victory at the River-Rio Cup competing in the brown belt division. The following year, in 1993 — the same year he received his black belt — he captured the Judo Cup title and cemented his standing among Brazil's top competitors by finishing ranked number 2 in the LINJJI (Liga Nacional de Jiu-Jitsu) rankings, one of the most prestigious competitive circuits in the country at that time.

Rather than stepping back after establishing his credentials in the early 1990s, de Melo continued pursuing excellence at the highest levels available to him. In 1998, he placed second at the Amazon State Championships, demonstrating sustained competitive engagement well into his career. His longevity on the circuit became even more apparent in the following decade: a bronze medal at the IBJJF Masters & Seniors in 2005, followed by a silver medal at the same prestigious international event in 2010 — competing at a high level well into his late forties. This arc, spanning from the early 1990s through the 2010s, illustrates a rare combination of longevity, discipline, and enduring passion for competition.

Antonio de Melo's continued involvement in the BJJ community is reflected in his membership with Brazil 021, a team co-led by highly respected figures Hanette Staack, André Terêncio, and Carlos Henrique. Brazil 021 carries a strong competitive pedigree and maintains deep ties to Rio de Janeiro's BJJ culture — making it a fitting home for a practitioner of de Melo's background and lineage. His presence within the team as an established black belt of more than three decades underscores both his active role in the sport and the respect he commands across the broader BJJ community.